LEED certification can be achieved through three basic steps that are incorporated into the design and construction process.

First, the project is registered. Registration (http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=65) costs $450. Registered projects can take advantage of the resources provided by the USGBC during design and construction, which is why it's important to register the project during planning or early in the design phase. LEED resources include access to credit inquiries and rulings, sample credit templates, and reference documents at http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=75.

Next, the building is designed (figure 3) and constructed. Successful strategies for LEED design and for working with design contractors on LEED buildings are explained in the "Design Strategies That Work for Forest Service LEED Buildings" section. Information on successful strategies for constructing LEED buildings is provided in the "Construction Engineering Strategies That Work for Forest Service LEED Buildings" section. Costs for assembling LEED documentation and commissioning the building during design and construction can be substantial.

Figure 3—Motorized louvers that vent the skylight shafts
when excess heat builds up are visible on the roof
ridgeline in this design drawing of the north elevation of the
Truckee Ranger District office in Truckee, CA (Tahoe National
Forest, Pacific Southwest Region). Other sustainable features
that are not visible include durable products, recycled products,
locally produced construction materials, and boulders from the
site that will be used for landscaping and to discourage vehicles
from traveling off the pavement. The 11,535 square-foot building,
under construction when this report was being prepared,
should achieve LEED Silver certification.

Finally, all the documentation is assembled and submitted online for building certification. Certification costs $1,750 to $17,500, depending on the size of the building. The fee reimburses the USGBC for the cost of reviewing and evaluating the submission. LEED letter templates and additional documentation for the application process are provided at https://leedonline.usgbc.org/Login.aspx. More information on templates and documentation is in the "Design Strategies That Work for Forest Service LEED Buildings" and "Construction Engineering Strategies That Work for Forest Service LEED Buildings" sections of this report.

Submissions are reviewed by the independent nonprofit Green Building Certification Institute. Results of preliminary reviews are returned to the applicants so they can submit additional documentation, if necessary, to meet the requirements for the certification level they want to achieve. Documentation review has taken as long as 6 months for some completed Forest Service projects. The USGBC expects the changes implemented in January 2009 to shorten review time to about 30 days for most projects.

After submittal of any additional documentation, a final review is conducted, and certification is either granted at the Basic (26 to 32 points), Silver (33 to 38 points), Gold (39 to 51 points), or Platinum (52 to 69 points) level or denied. Appeals are allowed and are often necessary to achieve the desired certification. Appeal determinations should take 30 days (each), but can take longer.

To achieve certification, certain prerequisites must be satisfied, and the required total number of points must be earned from among several categories (figure 4). Points are available in six categories in LEED for New Construction, version 2.2.

Figure 4—The White Mountain Supervisor's Office (Eastern
Region) is currently under construction. It was designed
to achieve LEED Silver certification, but may attain LEED
Gold certification. The building and site development incorporate
a wide range of sustainable design strategies including recycled
and locally produced materials, foam flush composting toilets,
a gray water recirculation system, daylighting and automatic
electric lighting controls, permeable pavement, solar hot water
heating, and a biomass boiler that not only heats the building,
but also generates electricity.

• Sustainable Sites: 1 prerequisite, 14 possible points
• Water Efficiency: 0 prerequisites, 5 possible points
• Energy & Atmosphere: 3 prerequisites, 17 possible points
• Materials & Resources: 1 prerequisite, 13 possible points
• Indoor Environmental Quality: 2 prerequisites, 15 possible points
• Innovation & Design Process: 0 prerequisites, 5 possible points

The categories, prerequisites, and available points are similar but not identical in other LEED rating systems such as LEED for Homes.

LEED rating systems have changed as technology progresses and the LEED committees refine requirements. The current version of LEED for New Construction, 2.2, has been in effect since January 1, 2006. An updated version is due to be released in mid 2009. More information about the updated version is available in "The Future of Sustainable Buildings in the Forest Service" section of this report.